Mouthguard

Abstract

The present application is directed to a mouth guard to protect the user's teeth and / or jaw. It is important that the mouth guard fit tightly and properly in order to fully protect the user. The present invention achieves the proper fit by having cilia in the cavity that comes in contact with the user's teeth. These cilia move to allow the mouth guard to fit tightly and properly. In addition, the mouth guard of the present invention may contain flavoring such as Gatorade, bubble gum flavoring, as well as the traditional cherry, orange and grape that can be released into the oral cavity of the user while wearing the mouth guard. This allows the user to taste the flavoring while using the mouth guard.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a mouth guard for use by an athlete while participating in contact sports such as football, hockey, and lacrosse, which may be used alone or in combination with a protective helmet or protective headgear. In particular, the present invention relates to a mouth guard having raised cilia in the cavity designed to accept the teeth that can be manipulated by the teeth once worn to make the mouth guard fit properly. In addition, the present invention relates to a mouth guard having a flavor impregnated within either as flavor crystals or as a separate flavor pouch so as to allow the user to taste a particular flavor when released. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Participation in athletic activities is increasing at all age levels. All participants may be potentially exposed to physical harm as a result such participation. Physical harm is more likely to occur in athletic events were collisions between participants frequent...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] The present invention is directed to a mouth guard for protecting the teeth of the user that can be tightly fitted into the mouth of the user without using any forming techniques to form the mouthpiece to the user's teeth. More particularly, a mouth guard that uses a multiplicity of extensions in the form of cilia to tightly form around the mouth guard of the user. The present invention is also directed to a mouth guard that is flavored.

[0016] In an alternative embodiment of the invention the mouth guard comprises a first U-shaped structure having an inner wall and outer wall connected to each other by a base forming a channel between the inner and outer walls designed for the upper teeth of a user and a second U-shaped structure having an inner wall and outer wall connected to each other by a base forming a channel between the inner and outer walls designed for the lower teeth of a user. The first and second U-shaped structures are attached to each other by the underside of each of the bases whereby permitting the user to remove the mouth guard as a single unit. This structure allows the user to protect the lower and upper teeth at the same time while the previous embodiment above protects against the upper and lower teeth smashing together.

[0019] The mouth guard of the present invention may also further comprise a flavoring material. The flavoring material may be impregnated directly within the material from which the mouth guard is constructed in the form of an evenly dispersed emulsion or as flavor crystals that are dispersed throughout the mouth guard. These flavor crystals would release flavor into the mouth of the user as they dissolve. The flavor agent whether as an emulsion or in the form of crystals can also provide a fragrance to the mouth guard. The flavoring agent can mask the often stale smell and taste of a mouth guard that has been used and stored several times.

[0021] In yet another embodiment of the invention, the mouth guard may be fitted with a tether that provides for a quick way to remove said mouth guard from a user's mouth.

Problems solved by technology

All participants may be potentially exposed to physical harm as a result such participation.

Physical harm is more likely to occur in athletic events were collisions between participants frequently occurs such as football, field hockey, lacrosse, ice hockey, soccer and the like.

These stock mouth guards are not in any way molded or “fit” to the persons wearing them and, as a result, can be loose and uncomfortable for the user.

Often the mouth must be closed in order to hold them in place, and, not surprisingly, many athletes find them bulky and uncomfortable.

In addition, these mouth guards can interfere with speech and breathing, which is a further strong disincentive for athletes to wear these mouth guards.

However, repeated biting during participation in athletic events or gnawing due to nervousness before or during an athletic event can cause the material to spread resulting in a loose fit.

In addition, aging and / or continual exposure to oral fluids may cause the plasticizers to leach out causing the liner to become hard.

Custom-made mouth guards are considered to be the best of the conventional mouth guards as far as fit, shape retention and comfort are concerned, but they are also the most expensive.

In addition to the problems with the prior art described above, another problem that often arises is the stale taste of a mouth piece that is used over and over again.

Although the mouth guards are usually washed between games no degree of washing fully gets rid of the bacteria that grow on these mouth pieces.

The growth of bacteria can make the mouth guard taste stale and / or unpleasant.

This unpleasant taste can be distracting to a player while on the field.

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